June 7, 2025: JH - Songs from the Sopranos, III

June 7, 2025

Host: Jan Hunsinger (JH)

Spotlight:  Songs from "The Sopranos", III.

Rockin' Remnants is broadcast from WVBR-FM Ithaca. Check out our webpage, like us on Facebook, and tune in to 93.5 or stream the show every Saturday night from 6-9pm! (Or download the WVBR+ app now available for iOS and Android!)

Thanks to our sponsors Island Health & Fitness and Rasa Spa for their support every week!

Playlist

·     songs with * were requests

·     all chart information comes from the Billboard Top 100 (for chart dates before/during July 1958) or Billboard Hot 100 (for chart dates during/after Aug 1958) unless otherwise noted

·     a glossary of terms is below the playlist

6:00 - 7:00

OPENING THEME:  Good Old Rock ‘n’ Roll – Cat Mother & the All-Night Newsboys (1969 - #29: produced by Jimi Hendrix)

Big Girls Don't Cry - Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons (1962 - #1: song spent 5 weeks at the top of the BBHot 100)

More Than a Feeling - Boston (1976 - #5: group's first single from their debut LP)

Ain't Too Proud to Beg - The Temptations (1966 - #13: song toppped the R & B charts for 8 non-consecutive weeks)

Maybe Baby - The Crickets (1958 - #17: from the LP "The Chirping Crickets", it was co-written by Buddy Holly)

Diamonds and Rust - Joan Baez (1975 - #35: biographical title track from her classic LP)

Since I Met You Baby - Ivory Joe Hunter (1956 - #12: known as "The Baron of the Boogie", Hunter wrote this big hit)

Sister Golden Hair - America (1975 - #1: group member Gerry Beckley wrote the song, which he said was inspired by the works of Jackson Browne)

Scenes From an Italian Restaurant - Billy Joel (1977 - NR: from his LP "The Stranger", which was Joel's critical and commercial breakthrough album at a time when Columbia Records was considering dropping him)

The Tears of a Clown - Smokey Robinson and the Miracles (1970 - #1: Robinson, who was given the nickname 'Smokey' at the age of three by his uncle, co-wrote the song which ranks #313/RS500)

We Belong Together - Robert and Johnny (1958 - #32: Robert Carr and Johnny Mitchell from the Bronx)

Rock On - David Essex (1973 - #5: one-hit wonder from London)

Take Me Home, Country Roads - John Denver with Fat City(1971 - #2: his first charting single, written with future Starland Vocal Band members Bill Danoff and Taffy Nivert (Fat City); "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart" by the Bee Gees kept it out of #1)

Suspicious Minds - Elvis Presley (1969 - #1: written by Mark James, the same guy who wrote "Hooked on a Feeling", the song ranks #91/RS500 and is one of The King's 151 charting singles)

7:00 - 8:00 The Birthday Calendar (extra long tonight - went until 8:45!)

June 1:
Andy Griffith - b. 1926
[Charles] Pat Boone - 91
Linda Scott [Sampson] - 80
Ronnie Wood - 78

June 2:
Sammy Turner [Samuel Black] - 93
Johnny Carter (The Flamingos) - b. 1934
Otis Williams (The Charms) - 89
Jimmy Jones - b. 1937
Charlie Watts - b. 1941
William Guest (Gladys Knight and the Pips) - b. 1941

June 3:
Eddie Willis (The Funk Brothers) - b.1936
Ian Hunter - 86
Curtis Mayfield - b. 1942
Mike Dennis (The Dovells) - 82
Michael Clarke - b. 1944
Eddie Holman - 79
Suzi Quatro - 75

June 4:
Michelle Phillips - 81
Gordon Waller (Peter & Gordon) - b. 1945
Toni Wine - 78

June 5:
Floyd Butler (Friends of Distinction) - b. 1937
Tom Evans (Badfinger) - b. 1947
Ronnie Dyson - b. 1950

June 6:
Levi Stubbs [Stubbles] - b. 1936
Gary "U.S." Bonds - 86
Howie Kane [Howard Kirshenbaum] (Jay & the Americans) b. 1941

June 7:
Dean Martin - b. 1917
Tom Jones - 85

Make Yourself Comfortable - Andy Griffith (1955 - #26: one-hit novelty song by the actor best known as the sheriff of Mayberry)

July You're a Woman - Pat Boone (1969 - #100: last of his 60 charting singles, on Tetragrammaton Records from the LP "Departure", which attempted to make Boone appear 'hip'; song was written by John "Daydream Believer" Stewart)

I've Told Every Little Star - Linda Scott - 1961 - #3: million seller that originated in 1933)

Every Picture Tells a Story - Rod Stewart (1971 - DNC: song was co-written with former Faces member Ronnie Wood)

Lavender Blue - Sammy Turner (1959 - #3: song is derived from a 17th century folk song/nursery rhyme; we heard the original Bigtop Records 45 produced by Lieber & Stoller)

Golden Teardrops - The Flamingos (1953 - DNC: tenor Johnny Carter sang the falsetto part on this early doo-wop song)

Hearts of Stone - Otis Williams and the Charms (1954 - #15 pop; #1 R&B: Williams was the group's lead singer; cover version by the Fontane Sisters went to #1)

Handy Man - Jimmy Jones (1960 - #2: Jones co-wrote the song which went to #1 when covered by James Taylor in 1977)

Jumpin' Jack Flash - The Rolling Stones (1968 - #3: Charlie Watts was the long-time drummer for the band; song ranks #124/RS500)

Every Beat of My Heart - The Pips (1961 - #6: William Guest was cousin to Gladys Knight, whose name later went before the group)

No Matter What Sign You Are - Diana Ross and the Supremes (1969 - #31: Funk Brother Eddie Willis played the sitar intro to this lesser known hit by the girl group)

All the Young Dudes - Mott the Hoople (1972 - #37: Ian Hunter was lead singer for the group; song was written by David Bowie and ranks #253/RS500)

Freddie's Dead - Curtis Mayfield (1972 - #4: from the movie "Superfly")

You Can't Sit Down - The Dovells (1963 - #3: lead singer Len Barry embarked on a solo career after this hit for the Philadelphia group)

Goin' Back - The Byrds (1967 - #89: Michael Clarke was drummer for The Byrds, The Flying Burrito Brothers, and Firefall; song was written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King)

Hey There Lonely Girl - Eddie Holman (1970 - #2: song was a remake of "Hey There Lonely Boy" by Ruby and the Romantics in 1963)

Gotta Get Away - The Pleasure Seekers (1965 - DNC: 15-year-old Suzi Quatro played bass and sang lead vocals with her sister Patti for this all-female garage band out of Detroit)

Safe in My Garden - The Mamas and the Papas (1968 - #53: great example of the vocal harmonies the group could produce)

I Go to Pieces - Peter & Gordon (1965 - #9: song was written by Del Shannon)

Sugar Sugar - The Archies (1969 - #1: Toni Wine provided the female vocals for the cartoon group; she also wrote the songs "A Groovy Kind of Love", "Black Pearl", and "Candida")

Grazing in the Grass - The Friends of Distinction (1969 - #3: Floyd Butler was co-founder of the L.A. group)

Come and Get It - Badfinger (1970 - #7: Tom Evans was the group's bass player; song was written by Paul McCartney)

(If You Let Me Make Love to You Then) Why Can't I Touch You? - Ronnie Dyson (1970 - #8: Dyson had a lead role in the Broadway production of Hair)

Walk Away Renee - The Four Tops (1968 - #4: their excellent cover of the Left Banke's classic song)

Quarter to Three - Gary "U.S." Bonds (1961 - #1: a song that Bruce Springsteen still uses on occasion for his encore)

Sunday and Me - Jay and the Americans (1965 - #18: song was written by Neil Diamond)

Houston - Dean Martin (1965 - #21: song was written by Nancy Sinatra collaborator Lee Hazelwood)

What's New Pussycat? - Tom Jones (1965 - #3: written by Hal David and Burt Bacharach, who said that he wanted Jones' "big voice" to sing the title song to the movie)

*Never Ending Song of Love - Delaney and Bonnie (1970 - #13: from the LP "Motel Shot", which included guest musicians Leon Russell, Joe Cocker, John Hartford, Gram Parsons, and Duane Allman)

Don't Stop Believin' - Journey (1981 - #9: group's signature song and the song that famously ended "The Sopranos" TV show)

CLOSING THEME:  Sleepwalk – Santo & Johnny (1959 - #1 for two weeks; brothers Santo [steel guitar] and Johnny [rhythm guitar] Farina from Brooklyn)

Glossary of Terms:

dnc = did not chart

nr = not released as a single at the time

AC = Billboard’s chart for “Adult Contemporary” records

BB = Billboard Magazine, which publishes the Hot 100 chart (previously known as the Top 100), along with several other charts

Bubbling Under = songs that were ranked but fell below the top 100

C&W = Billboard’s chart for “Country & Western” records

R&B = Billboard’s chart for “Rhythm & Blues” records

RRHOF = Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

RS500 = Rolling Stone Magazine’s ranked list of the top 500 singles of all-time

Host June 14: Gregory James (GJ) with a spotlight on Revolution!

Thanks for tuning in! You can listen to Rockin' Remnants every Saturday night from 6-9pm on WVBR (93.5 FM in Ithaca, NY) or streaming here. 

Thanks again to our sponsors Island Health & Fitness and Rasa Spa for their support every week!

May 31, 2025 - GJ - Smiling

Rockin’ Remnants

Rockin’ Remnants is broadcast from WVBR-FM Ithaca. Check out our webpage, like us on Facebook, and tune in to 93.5 FM or stream the show every Saturday night from 6-9 p.m. Eastern. (Or download the WVBR+app now available for iOS and Android.)

Thanks to our sponsors Island Health & Fitness and Rasa Spa for their support every week!

Date: May 31, 2025

Host:  Gregory James

Feature: Smiling

Birthday Calendar

May 26

Stevie Nicks   77 years old

Garry Peterson (Guess Who drummer)  80 years old

Levon Helm   b. 1940

Peggy Lee  b. 1920

May 27

Cilla Black  b. 1943

May 28

Leland Sklar   78 years old

John Fogerty   80 years old

Gladys Knight  81 years old

May 29

Gary Brooker (Procol Harum vocalist)  b. 1945

May 31

John Bonham (Led Zeppelin drummer)  b. 1948

Lenny Welch  b. 1938

Peter Yarrow  b. 1938

Rock n’ Roll Trivia

Question: In the 6:00 hour I played a song by a 15 year old singer who was in the running to replace Mary Wells at Motown in 1965. What was the song and who was the singer?

(scroll down to find the answer below the playlist)

Playlist

* songs with * were requests

* all chart information comes from the Billboard Top 100 (for chart dates before/during July 1958) or Billboard Hot 100 (for subsequent dates) unless otherwise noted

* glossary of terms is below the playlist

6:00

OPENING THEME: Good Old Rock n’ Roll—Cat Mother and the All Night Newsboys (1969, #29, produced by Jimi Hendrix)

Make Me Smile Chicago   1970  #9

These musicians had musical backgrounds in classical and jazz, and this track is an example of how they incorporated that into their pop/rock style.

My Smile Is Just a Frown (Tuned Upside Down)  Carolyn Crawford  1965 #39 RB

Crawford was 15 years old when she recorded this for Motown. It looked for a minute like Crawford was in line to take the place of Mary Wells who had just left Motown.

Smile a Little Smile for Me Flying Machine   1969  #5

This was their debut single.

*Keep On Smilin' Wet Willie   1974  #10

Going out to Peggy with love from Scottie.

Smile Was (Not Was)   1983  #106

Guest vocal by Doug Fieger of The Knack.

*Jesus Christ Superstar  Murray Head et. al.  1971  #14

Requested by Jane who just saw the show at the Rev Theater in Auburn.

(You Caught Me) Smilin' Sly & The Family Stone   1972  #42H100   #21 RB

From their album “There’s a Riot Goin’ On.”

Smile Jerry Butler & Betty Everett   1965  #42 H100 

On the Vee Jay label.

Smile Trini López  1960  DNC

Charlie Chaplin was one of the composers of this song.

Smiling Phases Traffic    1967   DNC  

Smiling Phases     Blood Sweat and Tears   1968    

You heard my Frankenstein edit of the two versions.

Wooden Ships Jefferson Airplane 1969  DNC

Paul Kantner co-wrote the song with David Crosby and Stephen Stills. Due to contractual complications, Kanter could not be credited as a songwriter on the Crosby Stills and Nash version. The song is a dialogue, and it’s great to hear Marty, Grace and Paul sharing the lead vocals.

Sara Smile Daryl Hall & John Oates    1976  #4

This was their first top 10 hit. John Oates introduced Daryl Hall to Sara Allen, who were together for 30 years before breaking up in 2001. By comparison, Hall and Oates made it to 50 years before breaking up. 

The Shadow Of Your Smile (1973 Version) Marvin Gaye NR

This was from an album of romantic ballads released posthumously. He sang counterpoint in two different vocal registers, and it sounds like two people are singing.

Can't Smile Without You Barry Manilow   1978  #3

In performance, Manilow would often select a woman out of the audience to sing the song with him as a duet.

When You Smile    Roberta Flack   1973   NR

 

7:00

Undun Guess Who  1969  #22

Great work by drummer Garry Peterson on this jazz-inflected track.

Gypsy Fleetwood Mac   1982  #12

Stevie Nicks met Lindsey Buckingham at a high school party at which he was singing “California Dreaming.” She added harmony vocals and they struck up a conversation.

Fever    Peggy Lee  1958  #8

Peggy Lee was an uncredited lyricist. The bass player was Joe Mondragon and the drummer was Shelly Manne.

The Weight   The Band  1968  #63

The town of Nazareth made its way into the song when Robbie Robertson noticed a stamp saying Nazareth on the inside of his guitar. Nazareth PA is where Martin guitars are made.

*Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo   Rick Derringer    1974   #23

This was the album version with the full guitar solo by Derringer. Rick Derringer died at the age of 77 on Monday May 26, 2025. Requested by JR

The Long and Winding Road   Cilla Black    1972  DNC

Paul McCartney has said that her cover of “Long and Winding Road” was the definitive version of the song.

*Your Smiling Face James Taylor   1977  #20

Leland Sklar plays an intricate yet unobtrusive bass line on the track. On his YouTube videos he talks about his technique and he tells tales of making music with a who’s who of musical talent. In the video below, Sklar has a close-up at 1:35. Requested by Jenny.

The Old Man Down the Road   John Fogerty  1985  #10

Off of his “Centerfield” album. For a guy from the San Francisco Bay area, Fogerty excels at swamp rock.

Help Me Make It Through the Night   Gladys Knight  1972  #33 H100  #13 RB  

Her cover of this Kris Kristofferson song was nominated for a Grammy.

Whiter Shade of Pale    Procol Harum  1967

Good Times, Bad Times   Led Zeppelin  1969  #80

Jimi Hendrix praised John Bonham’s quick triplets on the bass drum.

You Don’t Know Me Lenny Welch   1960   #45

And When I Die   Peter, Paul and Mary    1966  DNC

Laura Nyro wrote this song about dying when she was 17. She sold it to Peter Paul and Mary for $5,000 and they were the first to record it. In 1966 $5000 was the equivalent of $49,000 in today’s dollars.

And So It Goes  Billy Joel   1990  #37

He has said this song is one of his favorites and he believes it was largely overlooked. You heard the demo version of the song, which was not released until 2005 as part of a box set. He was recently diagnosed with Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus which affects hearing, vision and balance. On May 23, 2025 he announced that he has suspended concerts through 2026 while he recovers. He has no plans to retire.

8:00

Jackie Wilson Said (I'm in Heaven When You Smile) Van Morrison  1972  #61

The band had rehearsed the song only once before recording it. Morrison chose to release the first and only basic take with saxophone overdubs recorded later.

When You’re Smiling  Louis Prima, Keely Smith, Sam Butera and the Witnesses  1957   DNC 

In the Ed Sullivan below, check out Keely Smith's unsmiling facial expressions.

Smile The Emotions   1978  #102 H100  #6 RB

Maurice While (of Earth, Wind and Fire) composed and produced the song.

No One Can Make My Sunshine Smile    Everly Brothers  1962   #117

Gerry Goffin was one the writers of the song.

*Funny Face Kinks  1967  NR

Requested by Michael from Newfield.

The Brightest Smile In Town   Ray Charles  1963 # 92

Behind a Painted Smile    Isley Brothers   1967  DNC  

It did not chart in the U.S., but it reached #5 in the U.K. in 1969.

Smile for Me  Olivia Newton John  1976   NR

Make a Smile for Me   Bill Withers   1974  NR

From his album "Add Justments."

A Certain Smile Johnny Mathis  1958  #14

Johnny Mathis performed the song as a bar singer in the 1958 film of the same name.

Smiling Faces Sometimes The Undisputed Truth 1971 #3 H100  #2 RB

The song was originally recorded by the Temptations in 1971. Composer and producer Norman Whitfield gave the song to Undisputed Truth later the same year, and it was their only top 10 single.

The Smile Has Left Your Eyes   Asia  1983  #34

Sweet, Sweet Smile Carpenters 1978  #44H100  #8 CW

Karen Carpenter chose to record this song by Juice Newton rather than Richard Carpenter, who usually chose which songs they would record.

Smile Please    Stevie Wonder  1974  NR

From his LP “Fulfillingness’ First Finale,” his 17th studio album.

The Green Grass Starts to Grow    Dionne Warwick  1971  #43

This track was from her 14th and final album for the Scepter label before she signed with Warner Brothers.

I’ll Never Smile Again   Platters  1961  #25 H100  #17 RB

The song was written in 1939 and Tommy Dorsey’s version charted at #1 in 1940. The Platters returned the song to the top 40 in 1961.

CLOSING THEME: Sleep Walk – Santo and Johnny (1959, #1 for two weeks)

Trivia Answer

"My Smile is Just a Frown (Turned Upside Down)" by Carolyn Crawford

Congratulations to Brad from Ithaca for correctly answering the question and winning a pair of passes to Cinemapolis, downtown Ithaca’s home for first-run, international, independent and local films.

Glossary of Terms:

DNC = did not chart

NR = not released as a single at the time

H100 = Billboard Hot 100

CW = Billboard’s chart for country and western records

RB = Billboard’s chart of rhythm and blues records

Host June 7, 2025: Jan Hunsinger 

Thanks for tuning in! You can listen to Rockin’ Remnants every Saturday night from 6-9 p.m. Eastern on WVBR (93.5 FM in Ithaca NY) or streaming on WVBR.com.

Thanks again to our sponsors Island Health & Fitness and Rasa Spa for their support every week!